David Grisman - Life Of Sorrow

(Acoustic Disc ACD53) 2003.

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This is a compilation of recordings featuring David Grisman and accompanied by the likes of John Hartford, Del McCoury, the Nashville Bluegrass Band etc. Ralph is featured on two cuts: All The Good Times Are Past And Gone and Man Of Constant Sorrow.

All The Good Times Are Past And Gone was recorded on 9th August 1996, and features Ralph on lead vocal and banjo, David Grisman on mandolin & baritone vocal, Ralph II on guitar, Jack Cooke on bass and tenor vocal and James Price on fiddle. In contrast to earlier versions (Live In Japan and Saturday Night / Sunday Morning) Ralph sings lead rather than backing vocal.

Man Of Constant Sorrow was recorded on 10th August 1996, and unexpectedly features Ralph on tenor vocal (rather than lead), David Grisman on lead vocal and mandolin, Herb Pedersen on guitar, Laurie Lewis on fiddle and Jim Kerwin on bass. It's performed at a slower pace than usual and to my ear doesn't work particulalry well.

Other Stanley related cuts include: Life Of Sorrow, which is Carter Stanley's 1952 re-jigging of Man Of Constant Sorrow; Grandpa Jones' Tragic Romance which The Stanley Brothers cut for King; Cabin Of Love which Carter Stanley recorded when he was with Bill Monroe's Blue Grass Boys; and the Louvin Brothers' Seven Year Blues which Jack Cooke included on his 'Sittin' On Top Of The World' CD in 2006.

When You And I Were Young Maggie, which is a based on a true story,[1] was also recorded by The Stanley Brothers as an instrumental, together with Red Wing.

Although fifteen tracks are listed on the CD, there is a hidden bonus track at the end with Mac Wiseman singing Keep On The Sunnyside.